Combine 4 columns into one with - seperators

**oddcarout** · 06-17-2009, 06:20 PM

I have 4 columns with a three digit number in each. all start with 0 so they are formated as text.

I need them to end up looking like 000-000-000-000. when I try

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all of the zeros go away.

how can I do this.

**oddcarout** · 06-17-2009, 06:27 PM

ok I have them all in one cell now(still have the 4 cells, but thought that it might make it easier.

I have tried a custom format but it wont change them.

**shg** · 06-17-2009, 06:27 PM

I think they are actually numbers formatted as 000.

**martindwilson** · 06-17-2009, 06:55 PM

try in the format
=TEXT(A1,"000")&"-"&TEXT(B1,"000")

**DonkeyOte** · 06-18-2009, 03:11 AM

If they are as you say all text then your original:

=A2&-B2&-C2&-D2

would coerce B2:D2 back to numbers thereby dropping leading zeroes... so perhaps you meant:

=A2&"-"&B2&"-"&C2&"-"&D2